Henry Stuart, Duke Of Gloucester

Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester (8 July 1640 – 13 September 1660), was a member of the House of Stuart and the youngest son of King Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and Henrietta Maria of France. His birth took place at Oatlands Palace near Weybridge in Surrey. He was the penultimate child of the royal couple, who had a total of nine children, including four sons and five daughters. Henry was baptised on 22 July 1640, with his elder sister Mary serving as his godmother. At birth, he received the title of Duke of Gloucester.

Henry’s paternal grandparents were King James VI of Scotland and I of England, and Anne of Denmark. His maternal grandparents were King Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici, of whom only Marie was alive at the time of Henry's birth. His siblings included Mary, who was betrothed to William of Orange, and several others who died young or shortly after birth.

During his early childhood, the political turmoil of the English Civil War led to the separation of Henry and his sister Elizabeth from their family. From the age of two, they were held as prisoners by Parliament, moving between various residences including Hampton Court Palace and St James's Palace. The war caused significant disruptions; the children’s caretakers and guardians changed multiple times, often influenced by the prevailing political allegiances. In 1645, Henry was joined by his older brother James, Duke of York.

In 1647, King Charles I was arrested, and he maintained a limited ability to see his children until 1648. After Charles I's execution in 1649, the Parliament declared his eldest son Charles II as king of Scotland, prompting the exile of Henry and his sister Elizabeth to the Isle of Wight, where they were imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle. During this period, Elizabeth fell ill and died shortly after arriving there in September 1650.

Following her death, Henry remained at Carisbrooke Castle until 1652, when Oliver Cromwell permitted his departure for the Netherlands, where he joined his sister Mary. He was then knighted in the Order of the Garter in 1653. Later, he joined his mother, Henrietta Maria, in Paris. Due to religious differences—Henry’s Protestantism contrasted with Henrietta Maria’s Catholicism—they had a strained relationship. His mother sought to convert him to Catholicism, which he opposed. Consequently, he was transferred to the care of various guardians, including the Abbé Walter Montagu and others who supported different religious influences.

Henry's allegiance during the period included fighting alongside his brother James in the Spanish service in 1657 and 1658, notably participating in the defense of Dunkirk during the Franco-Spanish conflict. He was knighted again and restored in titles by Charles II in 1659, becoming Duke of Gloucester and Earl of Cambridge.

Following the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Henry returned to England with his brother Charles II. He was granted several appointments, including Chief Steward of Gloucester and Ranger of Hyde Park. However, in early September 1660, Henry contracted smallpox; he died on 13 September 1660 before his brother's coronation. His remains were moved to Westminster Abbey, where he was interred in the vault of Mary, Queen of Scots. His sister Mary, who also died of smallpox shortly thereafter, was buried nearby.

Henry's death was noted by contemporary historians such as the Earl of Clarendon, who described him as a promising youth with a distinguished personality. His early death prevented a potential marriage alliance with Princess Wilhelmine Ernestine of Denmark, which was planned but never materialized. His passing influenced the line of succession, which later passed to William III and Mary II, descendants of his siblings, leading eventually to the House of Hanover.